Exploring Life & Business with Jamie McKinney of The Leadership Laboratory

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie McKinney.

Hi Jamie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
“Just don’t be wearing them stilettos out here.” That is a direct quote from the man assigned to train Jamie the first time she visited an oil rig. She playfully responded, “They have steel toes, so that’ll work, right?”

Early in her career in the automotive industry, Jamie quickly realized that hard work and motivation weren’t enough to advance if her voice shook or she stayed quiet. Initially, she learned a lot of lessons the hard way, but over time she developed a formula she used repeatedly to earn respect, make an impact, and get noticed in the way she wanted.

After more than two decades in male‑dominated industries, observing brilliant women stall on the “broken rung” of leadership, Jamie decided to share her solution. She reverse‑engineered what actually moves careers forward—confidence, communication, and strategic thinking, not just technical skills.

That decision led her to build an award‑winning coaching practice, her 3 Pillars of Leadership course, and The Leadership Laboratory community and podcast, all designed to give women a safe place to experiment with their leadership style, practice out loud, and turn inner confidence into promotions, visibility, and impact.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of my go-to mantras is, “Water finds a way.” All business owners face struggles and challenges—if you don’t, you’re playing too small. When you’re staunchly dedicated to your mission, as I am, obstacles become nothing more than detours to your next step. It can feel hard in the moment, but every lesson teaches something valuable. The sooner you look past frustration and into learning, the faster you advance and the bigger impact you drive.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I often hear, “This is my favorite part of my day,” from women who’ve joined my programs. YTD, these women have boosted their collective compensation by over $800,000—when you amplify your value, the ask gets easy. Managers love seeing their team members’ full potential unlocked, driving productivity, morale, and bottom-line results. Everyone wins.

It can feel highly intimidating—even debilitating—to learn, take risks, and stretch out of your comfort zone when your guard is up, even in the healthiest environments. This hits marginalized groups especially hard. The Leadership Laboratory changes that: a safe, empowering space where women in male-dominated industries experiment with their leadership style, make mistakes without consequences, learn from them, try again, and show up strong at work.

A laboratory, by definition, is for experimentation—this mindset accelerates growth, sparks fun, builds real camaraderie, and often reveals strengths and gifts “lab cats” didn’t even know they had.

Like one advanced track graduate, for example, who said, “My professional life is night and day different. Before, I felt lost on how to have a difficult conversation or make team asks. Now I reach out confidently without hesitation or dread.”

What were you like growing up?
I have two younger sisters, so I was often organizing games, TV shows with our VHS video camera, and bike ramps, or building indoor forts. I was a good student, always striving for perfection (now a recovering perfectionist!), and excited about extracurricular activities. I loved family parties, neighborhood events, and exploring….everything from field trips to out-of-state trips and then out of the country too. I was always very curious and felt fulfilled to experience new cultures and environments.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jamiemckinney.com/lab
• Instagram: Jamie_Empowers
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-dandar-mckinney/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@speakupsister

Image Credits
I have full image rights.